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Rights

This item is available under a Creative Commons License for non-commercial use only

Disciplines

5.3 EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

Publication Details

Article published in Level3, Issue 3, May 2005. http://level3.dit.ie/html/issue3_list.html#.

Abstract

Calls for sustaining and increasing investment in higher education are often made on the basis that higher education is a `public good'. The idea of higher education as a public good is frequently conceptualized in terms of its contribution to economic development. If more people participate in higher education then society as a whole will benefit. Outside of the economic benefits of higher education there is less debate as to what is meant by `public good' in the context of higher education. This paper explores higher education as a public good and its role in realizing the public good (Jonathan 2001). With particular reference to Ireland, this paper also looks at the impact of conceptualizing the `public good' role of higher education from an economic perspective, and what this implies for students, higher education institutions and society.

Recommended Citation

Fisher, S. (2005) Is there a need to debate the role of higher education and the public good? Level3, Issue 3, May 2005.